ANTIPHOSPHOLIPID ANTIBODIES - LUPUS ANTICOAGULANTS, ANTICARDIOLIPIN AND ANTIPHOSPHOLIPID ISOTYPES IN PATIENTS WITH SICKLE-CELL DISEASE

Antiphospholipid antibodies were investigated in 37 individuals with s ickle cell disease and compared to a control group of 30 healthy subje cts. Sickle cell patients included 18 homozygous sickle cell patients, 8 S/beta thalassemic patients and 11 sickle cell trait subjects. In a ll individuals, antiphospholipid antibodies were explored by lupus ant icoagulant (LA) detection and the quantification of IgG and IgM antica rdiolipin (aCL) isotypes, total antiphospholipid antibodies (,APA,) an d IgM, IgG and IgA antiphospholipid classes. In homozygous sickle cell patients, mean level of IgG aCL and total APA were significantly incr eased (17.02 +/- 8.88 GPL/ml, p < 0.05 and 10.64 +/- 10.58 UPL/ml, p < 0.05 respectively). The IgG aCL, total APA and LA frequencies were 22 .2%, 44.4% and 62.2%, respectively. APA isotypes were mostly IgG or Ig G and IgA. In S/P thalassemic patients, mean levels of APA were signif icantly increased (10.81 +/- 7.82 UPL/ml, p < 0.05). Their frequency w as 71.4% and they were mostly IgG or IgG and IgA. In patients with sic kle cell trait, mean levels of APA, were significantly increased (10.8 4 +/- 5.84 UPL/ml, p < 0.01). Their frequency was 72.7% and mostly of IgG isotype. Our study showed a close association between high APA lev els and sickle cell syndrome, however there was no relationship betwee n high levels of antiphospholipid antibodies and the major complicatio ns of sickle cell disease.